Meriden man nabbed on DUI charges

Matt Gantos

Published 12:00 am, Thursday, June 13, 2013

MIDDLETOWN >> A Meriden man was charged with driving under the influence early on Monday morning after a loud argument, police said.

The man, identified as Henry L. Matias, was arrested after an officer heard "a loud verbal argument" between Matias and a woman, police said. The woman allegedly yelled at Matias to not get in the car and drive because he was drunk. Then she pointed to the police officer sitting nearby, police said.

The officer said he saw Matias still get into the driver's seat and start up the vehicle. The woman continued to try to talk the man out of the car, but she was unsuccessful, police said.

As the officer followed Matias north on Main Street, he observed the car travel in both lanes for a short distance, then suddenly take a right-hand turn. That is when the officer activated his emergency light and signaled for the driver to pull over, police said.

The arresting officer, Justin Lathrop, said the accused's breath smelled of alcohol as he rolled down the window and that his eyes were red and glossy.

At first Matias refused to give his license, registration and insurance stating that "he was a Vietnam veteran and had done nothing wrong," according to police. Matias then allegedly admitted that he had been drinking a few beers ealier that day, police said.

Lathrop asked Matias to perform the standard field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed. Police also identified a blue plastic cup smelling of alcohol in the center console cup holder. When asked to submit to a breath test, Mathias entered a .182 blood alcohol content level.

The driver was then arrested and charged with driving under the influence, failure to drive in the proper lane and drinking an alcoholic beverage while operating a motor vehicle. He was released after posting a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Middletown court on June 24.